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| Olympics
Lottery cash diversion won’t affect sector, says government |
15/03/07 |
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The
Department for Culture, Media and Sport has claimed that despite
the diversion of £675 million in lottery money to fund
the 2012 Olympics, there will be no impact on lottery cash
earmarked for the voluntary and community sector.
Speaking before the Commons, culture secretary Tessa Jowell
reported an increase of the Olympic budget from £2.4bn
to £9.3bn, with £2.2bn to be taken from the National
Lottery. She confirmed that Lottery good causes with the most
impact on people’s lives – through the voluntary
sector – would be protected and that it was the government’s
intention that existing projects need not be endangered.
Commenting on Jowell’s speech, minister for the third
sector Ed Miliband said: “After today’s announcement,
the voluntary sector will get the same level of resources
from the Big Lottery Fund that they would otherwise have received.
Instead, the Olympic transfer will come from that portion
which was expected to go to statutory agencies. I hope this
is seen as a fair and equitable outcome by the voluntary sector
and will be welcomed.”
Acevo’s chair John Low confirmed that the decision would
indeed be welcomed, saying: “Our members will be very
pleased with today’s announcement, which will preserve
the sector’s level of funding from the Big Lottery Fund.
I would like to pay tribute to all of them for their work
on this campaign.”
However, chair of the Big Lottery Fund Sir Clive Booth’s
reaction was not so cheery: “I very much regret that
it has been necessary to divert a further £425m of the
Big Lottery Fund’s good cause resources to support the
2012 Olympics infrastructure,” he said, “but I
am pleased that we will be able to protect existing programmes
and the money earmarked for the Third Sector.
“I recognise that the government’s decision will
be a cause of concern for the many organisations across the
UK who have been campaigning against any further diversion.
We have, however, fought hard to minimise the level of diversion
and to secure the best deal we possibly could,” he added.
The NCVO has said it will remain vigilant to ensure that the
government’s commitment is actually honoured. Chief
executive Stuart Etherington said: “We welcome the culture
secretary’s pledge that the voluntary and community
sector will not be adversely affected and now need firm details
outlining how the government will ensure that charities and
community groups do not suffer.”
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